Boat propeller



Aug. II, 1942. E. A. BUE'HLE'R 130m rnormm,

Filed March 11, 1 940 m 5 illu lllllllllllIli l I I v ltintmliilililn l Application Match 11, 1940, Serial No. 323,292 I v 7 This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in boat propellers.

The principal objects of this invention are: First, to provide a method of boat propulsion simulating'the action'of a fish's tail;

Second, to provide'a method of boat propulsion which can be'operated by hand, foot, or mechanical motive power; I l

Third, to provide a methodof boat propulsion which will eliminate I the use of oars in propelling a'rowboat;

v Fourth, to provide a simple mechanism for boat propulsionwhich can be easily and quickly attached to'or'detached from a boat without the {use oftools; I Fifth; to provide a simple mechanism for boat propulsion which will be inexpensive to manufacture; and

" Sixth, to provide a method of boat propulsion having such other advantages as shall hereinafter appear.

With the foregoing objects in view, this invention consists of the combination and arrangement of its parts as is hereinafter more fully described, as illustrated in the accompanying 25 drawing, and as set forth in the claims therefor.

In the accompanying drawing, consisting of one sheet, forming a part hereof Fig. l is a side elevation, partially in section, of sleeve, bracket and shaft assembly of device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation, partially in section, of sleeve, bracket and shaft assembly of device.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, this invention consists of propeller blade I reinforced by spring ribs 2 or spring ribs I8, a shaft 3 having a series of three or more grooves 5 and an aperture 5, a cross-arm I having at each extremity eyes 8, two operating ropes or chains 9 each equipped with D-type or ring-type handles Ill, an upper suspension bracket I2, an attaching bracket or clamp II having two thumb screws 4 I4 fitting into threaded apertures therein, a shaft sleeve I5 equipped with a thumb screw I6 fitting into a threaded aperture in sleeve I5, and a lower suspension bracket I'l.

Propeller blade I, which is intended to be constructed of flexible material, may be reinforced with a series of five or more spring ribs 2 imbedded therein, as shown in Fig. 5, or it may be reinforced with a series of five or more spring ribs I8 applied to the surface of propeller blade (Cl. 115-28) I I, as shown in Fig. 3, or not so reinforced. Spring ribs 2 or 18 may, or may not, be employed in construction, depending upon the type of flexible material usedin propeller blade I. I I

5 Shaft 3 is cylindrical and straight-except for its bifurcated portion which-is drawn slightly from a true cylindrical form-and curved'somewhat, as shown in Figs. 1,- 3 and 5. The lower extremity of shaft'3 is bifurcated to receive-and secure the propeller blade I, which is secured in such bifurcated portion by means of bolts or rivets 4. The upper extremity of shaft 3 has an aperture 6 extending through its diameter to receive and secure cross-arm 1. Approximately l5 equidistant between its extremities shaft 3 has a series of three" or'more groove's5 following its circumference. -Grooves 5, in conjunction with thumb screws I6 extending through a threaded aperture in sleeve I5, are intended to provide a 20 means' of vertically positioning shaft 3 and a means for' adjusting such vertical positioning.

Cross-arm 1 extends equidistant laterally from shaft 3 and terminates at each extremity in an eye 8 for receiving operating ropes or chains 9. The free ends of the operating ropes or chains 9 are equipped with D-type or ring-type handles I0. The propeller blade and shaft assembly pivotly moves within sleeve I5. The cylindrical sleeve I5 i vertically suspended in parallel relation to the stern of the boat by means of an upper sus pension bracket I2 which engages with angular clamp II. The clamp II is angular in form, as shown in Fig. 3, and has an aperture for fixedly receiving the cylindrical sleeve I5. Suspension bracket I2 is substantially M-shaped, as is shown. in Fig. 2, with two legs extending angularly from its extremities. Clamp II engages the inner side of the stern board of the boat, as shown in Fig. 3, and suspension bracket I2 engages the outer side of the stern board, as shown in Fig. 3. Pressure for rigidly aflixing the device to the boat is applied by means of two thumb screws I4 extending through threaded apertures in clamp II. Cylin- 5 drical sleeve I5 is positioned from the stem of.

the boat and rigidly maintained by means of a substantially M-shaped suspension bracket II, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Once attached to a rowboat, the mechanism is put in operation by the alternate pulling of the operating ropes or chains 9. The steering of the boat is also accomplished by the use of operating ropes or chains 9. While the mechanism is illustrated as being hand operated, it may also be equipped. for foot and power operation.

What Iclaim is:

1. In a boat propulsion mechanism of the class described. a detachable aifixing assembly comprising a cylindrical sleeve having two suspension' brackets laterally abutting each extremity, a thumb screw extending through a threaded ap. erture therein, and an angular clamp having an aperture to fixedly receive said cylindrical sleeve and eq ipped with two thumb screws, substantially as'described.

2. In a boat propulsion mechanism of the class described, a propeller shaft assembly comprising a cylindrical shaft bifurcated at one extremity and having an aperture extending through the diameter of its other extremity and a series of three or more grooves following its circumference approximately equidistant from its extremities.

a cross-arm extending through said aperture equidistant laterally from said shaft, and a flat flexible propeller blade reinforced by five or more resilient ribs imbedded therein secured in the bifurcated portion of said cylindrical shaft, substantially as described.

' 3. In a boat propulsion mechanism of the class described, a propeller shaft assembly comprising a cylindrical shaft bifurcated at one extremity and having an aperture extending through the diameter of its other extremity and a series of three or more grooves following its circumference approximately equidistant from its extremities, a cross-arm extending through said aperture equidistant laterally from said shaft, and a fiat flexible propeller blade reinforced by five or more resilient ribs applied to the surface thereof secured in the bifurcated portion of said cylindrical shaft, substantially as described.

4. Aboat" propulsion mechanism comprising a cylindrical shaft bifurcated and slightly bent at one extremity and having an aperture extending through its diameter-at its opposing extremity and having at a point approximately equidistant fromdts extremities a seriesof three or more grooves following its circumference. a fiat ilexible propeller blade reinforced by five or more resilient ribs imbedded therein secured in the bifurcated extremity of said shaft, a cross-arm having apertures in both extremities extending equidistant laterally from said shaft, two operating ropesor chains extending from the apertures in said cross-arm and terminated by D-type or ringtype handles, a cylindrical sleeve having two suspension brackets laterally abutting each extremity and a thumb screw extending through a threaded aperture approximately equidistant from its extremities, and an angular attaching bracket or clamp equipped with thumb screws and having an aperture for fixedly receiving the said sleeve, said shaft being pivotly movable within said sleeve, substantially as described.

5. A boat propulsion mechanism comprising a cylindrical shaft bifurcated and slightly bent at one extremity and havin an aperture extending through its diameter at its opposing extremity and having at a point approximately equidistant from its extremities a series of three or more grooves following its circumference, a flat flexible propeller blade reinforced by five or more resillent ribs applied to the surface thereof secured in the bifurcated extremity of said shaft, a crossarm having apertures in both extremities extending equidistant laterally from said shaft, two op-.

erating ropes or chains extending from th apertures in said cross-arm and terminated by D- type or ring-type handles, a cylindrical sleeve having two sufiension brackets laterally abutting each extremity and a thumb screw extending through a threaded aperture approximately equidistant from its extremities, and an angular attaching bracket'or clamp equipped with thumb screws and having an aperture for fixedly receiving the said sleeve, said shaft being pivotly movable within said sleeve, ubstantially as, described;

szbwaan a. BUEHLER. 

